DALLAS (AP) — Dirk Nowitzki's debut in his record 21st season with the Dallas Mavericks won't be in the opener.Coach Rick Carlisle said Friday the 40-year-old Nowitzki will miss "multiple weeks" with a longer-than-expected recovery from left ankle surgery in April. The Mavericks open the season Wednesday in Phoenix.Nowitzki said he had a setback when he started playing again about a week before training camp. He hasn't practiced in the preseason. The surgery just before the end of last season was to remove bone spurs.Carlisle said the 13-time All-Star was doing better but hasn't done any significant work on the court.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder have waived four players ahead of their season opener Tuesday at Golden State.The team waived guard Abdul Gaddy, forward Donte Grantham, guard Scotty Hopson, and forward Dez Wells. The Thunder made the announcement in a news release Friday.Gaddy played in all four preseason games and averaged 1.0 point, 1.8 assists and 1.3 rebounds in 6.6 minutes per contest. Grantham, Hopson and Wells were signed on Oct. 10 and did not play in the preseason.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Clippers have signed guard Jamel Artis, who spent last season on a two-way contract with the Orlando Magic.Artis averaged 5.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 15 games for the Magic.The 25-year-old guard started all 46 games he appeared in for the Lakeland Magic, averaging 19.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 46 percent from the field.Artis played collegiately at Pittsburgh.The move was announced Friday.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MIAMI (AP) — Justise Winslow has agreed to a $39 million, three-year extension with the Miami Heat.A person with direct knowledge of the agreement confirmed the terms to The Associated Press on Friday night. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Winslow isn't signing the contract until this weekend.Later, Winslow confirmed that he would be signing the deal."I'm just excited," Winslow said. "I'm invested in this team, in this city. It's nice to get it done before the season so I can just go out there and play, open mind, open heart. I'm committed to this team and committed to this city."Winslow averaged 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds on 41 percent shooting over his first three seasons, playing mostly as a reserve. He was the No. 10 pick in the 2015 draft out of Duke.The contract means the Heat salary commitments for the 2019-20 season, when Winslow's extension would begin, are about $135 million for 10 players. Winslow will make $13 million in each of the three seasons of the deal,... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks have waived three players as they move toward setting their roster for the regular season.Forward Thomas Robinson and guards R.J. Hunter and C.J. Anderson were let go by the rebuilding team, which opens the season next Wednesday at New York.Robinson and Hunter were former first-round picks who signed with the Hawks in an effort to jump-start their struggling pro careers. Hunter played collegiately in Atlanta and is the son of Georgia State coach Ron Hunter.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball

NEW YORK (AP) — Joakim Noah's disappointing Knicks career is over after just two seasons.Unable to find a trade, the Knicks waived the 33-year-old center Saturday with two years and $37.8 million remaining on his contract.Noah had been away from the team since clashing with former coach Jeff Hornacek last season, when he appeared in just seven games. The Knicks had already decided he wouldn't rejoin the club under new coach David Fizdale but were hoping they could find a long shot trade to get something back for him without having to cut him.The New York native signed with his hometown team in 2016 and drew a loud ovation in his first appearance at Madison Square Garden, where he was introduced as being from the Hell's Kitchen section of the city, rather than from Florida, the team he helped win two NCAA championships.The Chicago Bulls selected him with the ninth overall pick in the 2007 draft. He had great years with the Bulls, highlighted by being voted Defensive Player of the Year and... [More]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Pelicans have waived guard Jarrett Jack and forward Garlon Green.Jack had signed with New Orleans a week before training camp and averaged 3.3 points and two assists in three preseason games.Jack has played 13 years in the NBA, including two stints with New Orleans. Jack has averaged nearly 11 points per game throughout a career that has included stints in Portland, Indiana, Toronto, Golden State, Cleveland, Brooklyn and New York. He averaged a career-best 15.6 points in the 2011-12 season with New Orleans.Green signed with New Orleans in July after playing on the Pelicans' summer league team in Las Vegas. He averaged four points and 1.5 rebounds in four preseason games.The Pelicans open the regular season Wednesday night in Houston.___For more AP NBA coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jimmy Butler is still suiting up for the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the opener three days away.Despite his preference to play elsewhere, signs have begun to point to him staying with the Timberwolves at least to start the season. Butler took part in practice on Sunday, the second time he has done so since training camp began with his trade request as the focal point of the team."They want me to go out here and hoop to the best of my abilities," Butler said. "Make sure I'm healthy, compete, because that's what I love to do, and do it for the guys in the same jerseys as me."Butler made a surprising, and reportedly disruptive, appearance with the Wolves during their workout on Wednesday. They canceled practice on Thursday, after Butler went on ESPN to try to explain his motivations and frustrations in a wide-ranging interview that included criticism of the consistency of the effort by teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. When the Wolves played a preseason game... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns fired general manager Ryan McDonough on Monday, nine days before their season begins.James Jones and Trevor Bukstein will share the GM duties on an interim basis for the Suns. Jones is the team's vice president of basketball operations and Bukstein was assistant GM under McDonough, who had been in Phoenix since 2013 and was under contract through 2020.Suns owner Robert Sarver said in a statement announcing the firing that he made the decision "after much thought and a long evaluation of our basketball operations.""There's no perfect time to make a change," Sarver said in an interview on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM radio. "For me it's just about making consistent progress and with any leader it's an ongoing evaluation process. And, ultimately, I just decided we needed to make a change."The Suns took Deandre Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft and gave Devin Booker a $158 million extension during the offseason.Phoenix has had four straight losing... [More]

Dejounte Murray was driving past James Harden and on his way to the basket, showing one of the skills that made the San Antonio Spurs convinced he's the right point guard for their team.And then Murray's knee gave out.In an instant, the entire trajectory of the Spurs' season might have changed.Murray's season is almost certainly over, after the Spurs learned Monday that their starting point guard has a torn ACL in his right knee. The team hasn't revealed when Murray will have surgery, nor has it determined a timetable for his return, but ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation is a process that typically takes around a full year."You just carry on," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, standing in a corner of the team's practice facility in San Antonio shortly after the Murray diagnosis was released. "He's going to be out. Devastating injury for him, for the team. But life goes on. Everybody will pick up and do the best job we can to carry forward without him."Murray, who turned 22 last month,... [More]

Dejounte Murray was driving past James Harden and on his way to the basket, showing one of the skills that made the San Antonio Spurs convinced he's the right point guard for their team.And then Murray's knee gave out.In an instant, the entire trajectory of the Spurs' season might have changed.Murray's season is almost certainly over, after the Spurs learned Monday that their starting point guard has a torn ACL in his right knee. The team hasn't revealed when Murray will have surgery, nor has it determined a timetable for his return, but ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation is a process that typically takes around a full year."You just carry on," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, standing in a corner of the team's practice facility in San Antonio shortly after the Murray diagnosis was released. "He's going to be out. Devastating injury for him, for the team. But life goes on. Everybody will pick up and do the best job we can to carry forward without him."Murray, who turned 22 last month,... [More]

Dejounte Murray was driving past James Harden and on his way to the basket, showing one of the skills that made the San Antonio Spurs convinced he's the right point guard for their team.And then Murray's knee gave out.In an instant, the entire trajectory of the Spurs' season might have changed.Murray's season is almost certainly over, after the Spurs learned Monday that their starting point guard has a torn ACL in his right knee. The team hasn't revealed when Murray will have surgery, nor has it determined a timetable for his return, but ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation is a process that typically takes around a full year."You just carry on," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, standing in a corner of the team's practice facility in San Antonio shortly after the Murray diagnosis was released. "He's going to be out. Devastating injury for him, for the team. But life goes on. Everybody will pick up and do the best job we can to carry forward without him."Murray, who turned 22 last month,... [More]

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart and forward Aron Baynes and Cleveland Cavaliers forward J.R. Smith for an on-court shoving match in their exhibition game.NBA discipline boss Kiki VanDeWeghe fined Smart $25,000 for escalating the altercation and Smith $15,000 for shoving. Baynes was assessed $15,000 for initiating it.The league announced the fines Monday.In the first quarter of Saturday's game in Cleveland, Smith and Baynes got tangled up while boxing out under the Boston basket. Smith gave Baynes a two-handed push, and Smart ran in from near mid-court to retaliate with a shove of his own.Smart was given a technical foul and ejected. Smith was given a technical.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns fired general manager Ryan McDonough on Monday, eight days before the season begins.James Jones and Trevor Bukstein will share the GM duties on an interim basis for the Suns. Jones is the team's vice president of basketball operations and Bukstein was assistant GM under McDonough, who had been in Phoenix since 2013 and was under contract through 2020.Suns owner Robert Sarver said in a statement announcing the firing that he made the decision "after much thought and a long evaluation of our basketball operations."The Suns took Deandre Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft and gave Devin Booker a $158 million extension during the offseason. Phoenix has had four straight losing seasons and no playoff berth since 2010.Last year's 21-61 record was the worst in the NBA and second-worst in franchise history.But with the addition of Ayton and some other offseason moves, McDonough said at the team's media day that those days were over and the goal... [More]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Thunder guard Terrance Ferguson sustained a concussion in a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks and has been placed in the NBA's concussion protocol.The Thunder made the announcement Monday, a day after the injury. Ferguson took a shot to the head during the 113-94 win and did not return. There is no set timetable to complete the protocol.Ferguson appeared in 61 games, including 12 starts for the Thunder last season. He averaged 3.1 points and 0.8 rebounds in 12.5 minutes per game.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns have fired general manager Ryan McDonough barely a week before the season begins.James Jones and Trevor Bukstein will share the GM duties on an interim basis for the Suns. Jones is the team's vice president of basketball operations and Bukstein was assistant GM under McDonough, who had been in Phoenix since 2013 and was under contract through 2020.Suns owner Robert Sarver said Monday he made the decision to fire McDonough "after much thought and a long evaluation of our basketball operations."The Suns took Deandre Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft and gave Devin Booker a $158 million extension during the offseason. Phoenix has had four straight losing seasons and no playoff berths since 2010.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart and Cleveland Cavaliers forward J.R. Smith for an on-court shoving match in their exhibition game.The league announced the fines Monday.In the first quarter of Saturday's game in Cleveland, Smith and Celtics forward Aron Baynes got tangled up while boxing out under the Boston basket. Smith gave Baynes a two-handed push, and Smart ran in from near mid-court to retaliate with a shove of his own.NBA discipline boss Kiki VanDeWeghe fined Smart $25,000 for escalating the altercation and Smith $15,000 for initiating it.Smart had to be held back by two teammates, who tackled him to keep him from continuing to fight.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs say point guard Dejounte Murray has a torn ACL in his right knee, a major blow for the team.Murray was San Antonio's starting point guard, a role he assumed last season over longtime Spurs starter Tony Parker.Parker left as a free agent this summer, signing g with Charlotte.Murray got hurt on a drive into the lane against Houston's James Harden in the Spurs-Rockets preseason game Sunday. Murray's right knee simply appeared to give way without any contact, and he writhed in pain along the baseline after falling.An MRI on Monday confirmed the tear.He's the second Spurs guard to necessitate surgery for a knee injury this preseason. Rookie Lonnie Walker IV has a torn meniscus and will miss several weeks while recovering.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Steve Clifford knew very quickly that he was going into the family business. His father was a teacher and a high school coach in a tiny town in northern Vermont, and when he was a sophomore on his dad's team Clifford was telling his parents that he intended to head down that very same career path.The NBA was not on his radar."Never," Clifford said. "Not at all."But he got there, and he's persevered since. He dealt with a heart scare a few years ago, with debilitating headaches that left him unable to coach for a long stretch of last season, even getting fired by Michael Jordan's Charlotte Hornets this past offseason after five years and two playoffs berths there. And now he's got a new challenge, taking over the Orlando Magic and leading a team that has the Eastern Conference's longest active playoff drought.Regardless of how much turmoil he's gone through, Clifford is still counting his blessings — even now, as he inherits a rebuilding project."There's definitely times... [More]

PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns have fired general manager Ryan McDonough barely a week before the season begins.James Jones and Trevor Bukstein will share the GM duties on an interim basis for the Suns. Jones is the team's vice president of basketball operations and Bukstein was assistant GM under McDonough, who had been in Phoenix since 2013 and was under contract through 2020.Suns owner Robert Sarver said Monday he made the decision to fire McDonough "after much thought and a long evaluation of our basketball operations."The Suns took Deondre Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft and gave Devin Booker a $158 million extension during the offseason. Phoenix has had four straight losing seasons and no playoff berths since 2010.___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports